May 04 2023

Study: Canada Marijuana Legalization Associated With 9% Reduction in Traffic Crashes

Toronto saw a 9% reduction in traffic crashes immediately following Canada’s legalization of marijuana, according to a new study being published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review and published online ahead of print by the US National Library of Medicine.

Conducted by researchers at the Université de Sherbrooke, this study “examines the association between the enactment of Canada’s Cannabis Act (CCA) and the number of cannabis stores (NCS) with traffic injuries in Toronto.”

For the study researchers applied two methods: hybrid difference-in-difference (DID) and hybrid-fuzzy DID. They used “generalised linear models using CCA and the NCS per capita as the main variables of interest”, and “adjusted for precipitation, temperature and snow.”
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May 03 2023

Colorado Psychedelics Bill Sent to Governor

Colorado’s Legislature has sent Senate Bill 23-290 (to legally regulate certain psychedelics) to the desk of Governor Jared Polis, who is expected to sign it into law.

(Photo credit: Paul Stamets)

On Saturday Colorado’s House voted 45 to 18 on Saturday to pass the proposal, which had already passed the Senate 25 to 11. However, amendments made in the House required the Senate to take up the measure once more. Yesterday the Senate did just that, voting 32 to 3 to concur with the House’s amendments. They then voted 24 to 11 to give the measure final passage and send it to Governor Polis.

Governor Polis has expressed support for the proposal, and is expected to swiftly sign it into law.
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May 03 2023

Montana Governor Vetoes Bill to Reappropriate Marijuana Tax Revenue

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has vetoed a bill that would have reappropriated some of the revenue generated from legal marijuana sales.

Senate Bill 442 was passed overwhelmingly in both the House and Senate, 82 to 17 and 48 to 1. Despite this, Governor Gianforte has vetoed the measure. Typically the legislature could override an executive veto through a 2/3rds majority vote, but the legislative session ended on Tuesday. Although technically a veto can be overridden through the mail if the session has ended, it’s considered a difficult and unlikely move.

SB 442 would have created a new special revenue account for county roads, with the account funded by appropriating 20% of the revenue the state generates from legal marijuana sales. The funds would have gone to the Department of Transportation to be distributed monthly to county and consolidated city-county governments to be used for “construction, reconstruction, maintenance and road repair”.
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May 03 2023

Florida Medical Marijuana Telehealth Bill Passed by Senate

Florida legislation that would allow physicians to renew patients medical marijuana cards via telehealth was given approval today by the state’s Senate, and it has already passed the full House of Representatives

House Bill 387 was passed today through its second reading in the Senate, and placed on tomorrow’s calendar to receive a third and final reading. Given it was amended on the Senate floor once it’s passed through its third reading HB 387 will need to receive one final House vote before it can be sent to Governor Ron DeSantis for consideration.

If HB 387 is passed into law licensed physician would be allowed to use telehealth options such as Zoom when renewing a patient’s medical marijuana authorization card during annual renewals. The law does not, however, allow physicians to use telehealth when first authorizing a patient to use medical marijuana.
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May 03 2023

Denver Launches New Cannabis Cares Program

The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses has launched a new program for marijuana businesses.

Cannabis Cares badges.

The Cannabis Cares program is a City and County of Denver initiative that” recognizes cannabis businesses that go above and beyond to make a positive impact”, according to Denver’s official website. To qualify for recognition businesses must submit a social impact plan.

Submitting a plan can be done once per year, and must describe how a business will make an impact in five areas:
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May 03 2023

Maryland Governor Signs Marijuana Sales Bill Into Law, Sales to Begin July 1

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed into law legislation that establishes a regulatory framework for legal marijuana sales, which can begin on July 1.

“This will ensure the rollout of recreational cannabis in our state drives opportunity in an equitable way”, Governor Moore said at a signing ceremony for Senate Bill 516. “The criminalization of marijuana harmed low income communities and communities of color in a profound way. We want to make sure that the legalization of marijuana lifts those communities now in a profound way.”

The passage of Senate Bill 516 is needed given voters approved an initiative in November to legalize recreational marijuana. The initiative tasked the legislature to establish rules for the legal marijuana industry, with sales allowed to begin on July 1.
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May 03 2023

$46 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in New Mexico in April, 16% Increase from Prior Year

In New Mexico there was $46 million worth of marijuana sold in April via licensed marijuana retail outlets, according to the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department

The $46,076,614 in total marijuana sales in April is just shy of the $47.7 million sold in March (a monthly record), but is 16% higher than the $39.5 million sold in April, 2022, which marked the first month of recreational marijuana sales. The $46 million sold in April includes both dried marijuana flower as well as marijuana products such as concentrates, edibles, topicals and tinctures.

Of the $46 million sold, $14,839,835 was medical marijuana sales. The remaining $31,236,778 sold was from recreational marijuana.
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May 03 2023

Oregon: $80.7 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold in April

In Oregon there was $80.7 million in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold in April.

oregon marijuana

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

In total Oregon marijuana stores sold $80,748,638 worth of marijuana in April, according to data released by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. This is roughly on par with the $81 million sold in March, but is a decrease from the $90 million sold in April, 2022.

The $80.7 million in marijuana sold in April brought in $13.7 million in tax revenue, based on the state’s 17% marijuana tax rate. This doesn’t include any tax revenue obtained by cities who have established their own local tax.
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May 03 2023

Nevada Bill to Increase Marijuana Possession Limit by 250% Passed by Committee

Legislation is Nevada that would drastically increase the possession limit for legal marijuana and marijuana concentrates while also allowing dispensaries to obtain dual licenses, has been passed by a key Senate committee.

In Nevada the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, and up to from one-eighth of an ounce of marijuana concentrates, is legal for those 21 and older. The law was passed by voters in 2016, and took effect the following year.

Senate Bill 277 would increase the possession limit for dried marijuana from one ounce, to 2.5 ounces, and would double the limit for concentrates from one-eight of an ounce to one-fourth of an ounce. The proposal would also allow dispensaries to obtain dual licenses, allowing them to sell to both medical patients and recreational consumers.
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May 03 2023

Consumers and Patients Can Now Purchase Marijuana Seeds and Clones in Massachusetts

Marijuana seeds and clones are now available for sale in Massachusetts, the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) announced on Tuesday.

Licensed marijuana retail outlets, delivery operators and medical marijuana treatment centers (MTC) can now purchase seeds and clones at wholesale from marijuana cultivators and sell them directly to consumers, according to a press release sent Tuesday by the CCC. The agency defines “clones” as a clipping from a cannabis or marijuana plant that can be rooted and grown.

“Safety is paramount to us at the Commission,” Executive Director Shawn Collins said. “I’m proud that for the first time ever, Massachusetts residents will now be able to purchase both seeds and clones from licensed retailers and dispensaries that are closely regulated and tracked. If Patients or Consumers do choose to grow their own plants at home, we encourage them to follow public awareness tips available through MoreAboutMJ.org.”
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